C2 Examination

"Greetings, Young Master Su."

Yang Lan bowed slightly and said, "Having traveled from afar, I regret not bringing a gift. Please accept this hairpin as a token of my regard, Young Master Su."

As she spoke, Yang Lan removed the hairpin from her hair and extended it to Su Li.

Upon witnessing this, Su Li was momentarily taken aback.

In his past life, nothing of this sort had occurred.

Could it be that his reincarnation had set off a butterfly effect in this world?

Su Li faintly recalled that previously, Yang Lan had merely exchanged pleasantries with him, behaving quite normally.

Why, then, was Yang Lan offering him her hairpin now?

It was well-known that on the Cangqiong Continent, when a woman presented a man with a hairpin, it symbolized a pledge to marry none but him.

Su Li was momentarily lost in thought.

Should he accept it or not?

To accept would imply a commitment to marry Yang Lan.

As for declining...

Well, that was hardly an option.

Su Li was acutely aware of his current needs, so he had no choice but to accept the hairpin, regardless of his reservations.

Noticing Su Li's hesitation, Yang Qian sternly interjected, "Su Li, of all the princesses, Lan'er and I share the closest bond. Moreover, our father has already set the date. On the third day of next month, you and Lan'er are to be wed. Surely you wouldn't refuse a mere hairpin?"

"Very well, thank you, Princess," Su Li conceded, taking the hairpin and nodding to Yang Lan.

"Haha, from this moment forward, we're family. No more formal titles like Princess or Crown Prince—just Lan'er and Big Brother."

With Su Li accepting the hairpin, Yang Qian wrapped an arm around his shoulder, laughing heartily, "Tonight, we brothers shall not return until we've had our fill of drink!"

As Su Li and Yang Qian made their way into the Su household, numerous families from Suuton hurried to present their congratulatory gifts to the Su Family.

That day, the Su Family hosted a grand banquet with seventy-eight tables, attended by nearly every notable figure in Suuton.

But that wasn't all.

Shortly after the banquet commenced, two major powers from the Mollukya Empire—the Coldhammers and the Mo Family—also dispatched emissaries to extend their well-wishes to the Su Family.

The Coldhammers was the largest medicinal herb shop in the Mollukya Empire, virtually monopolizing ninety percent of the empire's medicinal herbs and pill trade. The Mo Family, on the other hand, had a murky relationship with the Stormshapers, a force on par with a kingdom.

The presence of the Coldhammers and the Mo Family at the Su Family's event was indeed significant. Representing the Coldhammers was their vice pavilion master, Xie Yan, while the Mo Family sent their chief steward, Mo Wentian.

However, shortly after Xie Yan and Mo Wentian took their seats, Yang Qian's expression soured, turning dark and stormy. He inhaled deeply and subtly signaled to the middle-aged man who had accompanied him.

Understanding the cue, the middle-aged man rose to his feet and addressed Su Li, "Young Hero Su, as a disciple of Master Ling Xu, it is said that you have mastered the 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.' Could you grace us with a demonstration, allowing us to witness its splendor?"

"He's arrived," Su Li thought to himself. Although he maintained his composure, he had anticipated this moment. The ripple effect had not significantly altered the course of events.

In his past life, feeling despondent, his reaction to the middle-aged man's request had been somewhat over the top. Furthermore, either the Coldhammers or the Mo Family had fed Yang Qian harmful information about him, leading to an unpleasant end to the feast.

"Who betrayed me in my previous life?" Su Li pondered, his gaze drifting over the experts from the Coldhammers and the Mo Family. Had it not been for these factions leaking information to Yang Qian, the Su Family might not have met their demise so swiftly.

The premature revelation that he was a discarded disciple had enraged Yang Qian, who, in his fury and shame, swiftly branded the Su Family as traitors.

Now, it appeared that Yang Qian was not entirely convinced of Su Li's abandonment, hence the middle-aged man's probing.

With these thoughts in mind, Su Li rose gracefully and responded, "The Flowing Cloud Sword Technique is divided into two parts. The first half's strength is on par with a third-grade battle skill, while the second half is comparable to a fourth-grade battle skill."

With a chuckle, the middle-aged man said, "Of course, we're interested in the latter half."

"Young Hero Su, would you be so kind as to demonstrate for us?"

Su Li had barely risen to his feet when he sat down again, requesting, "Bring me some paper and a pen. I'm going to write out the cultivation method for the 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.'"

At that moment, the atmosphere shifted palpably.

Yang Qian's expression subtly altered.

The 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique' had been instrumental in elevating the Mollukya Empire to its current grandeur.

The Empire's ruler had once been a mere outer disciple of the Trembleglades. After taking a sword strike intended for a Trembleglades elder, the grateful elder imparted the cultivation method for the first half of the 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique' to the monarch.

Even with just the first half, the technique's potency was on par with a third-grade battle skill.

Over the years, it was this very technique that had propelled the Mollukya Empire to the pinnacle of dukedoms.

On the vast continent, nations rose from weakness to strength, classified as dukedoms, kingdoms, empires, dynasties, and divine dynasties.

Only the first half of the 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique' was available to the Mollukya Empire, allowing it to reach the upper echelons of dukedoms. To ascend to a kingdom, the second half was essential.

Upon learning of Su Li's return from the Trembleglades, the Emperor had dispatched Yang Qian with the imperative to secure the second half of the 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique' at any cost.

So when Su Li began to transcribe the cultivation method for the second half of the technique, Yang Qian was understandably astounded.

With swift strokes, Su Li's pen danced across the paper, and in no time, the second half of the technique was vividly outlined.

Su Li was acutely aware of his surroundings. He could tell that as soon as he finished writing, both Xie Yan from the Coldhammers and Yang Qian, the Crown Prince of the Mollukya Empire, displayed an intense eagerness. After all, he had just revealed a Level Four Combat Technique.

Su Li waved the sheet of paper in his hand and declared, "I'll be leaving the Trembleglades to gain experience for about a year and a half. Therefore, I've decided to auction off this 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.'"

Boom!

At Su Li's announcement...

Yang Qian and Xie Yan were initially taken aback, then their faces lit up with excitement.

Meanwhile, Mo Wen Tian of the Mo family slightly furrowed his brow.

Su Li took in everyone's reactions.

By now.

Su Li was almost certain that Mo Wen Tian was the one who had leaked his status as a forsaken disciple of the Trembleglades.

"I wonder what you desire, Young Hero Su."

Vice Pavilion Master Xie Yan of the Coldhammers, struggling to contain his excitement, inquired, "Whatever you require, we at the Coldhammers are prepared to provide it unconditionally!"

Xie Yan was beside himself with excitement.

The Coldhammers had a near monopoly on the trade of medicinal herbs and pills throughout the Mollukya Empire, but the royal family and the Mo family seemed to be inching towards an alliance.

If the royal family and the Mo family were to unite, the Coldhammers would find themselves in a tight spot within the Mollukya Empire!

The three powerhouses of the Mollukya Empire.

The Pavilion Master of the Coldhammers, the Patriarch of the Mo family, and the Monarch of the Mollukya Empire.

All were at the Celestial River Realm in their cultivation.

Currently.

Though the Pavilion Master faced immense pressure, the Mo family and the royal family dared not make any hasty moves.

However, if they got their hands on the cultivation technique for the latter half of the 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique,' it would spell doom for the Coldhammers!

Thus, Xie Yan was determined to secure the cultivation technique for the second half of the 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique,' sparing no expense in medicinal herbs and pills if necessary!

"Hahaha, Brother Su, just tell me what you want," Yang Qian boomed with laughter. "We're all family here. My father has long awaited the second half of the 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.' Thank you for making his dream come true."

As he spoke, Yang Qian extended his hand to take the paper from Su Li's grasp.

"You're trying to test me?"

A cold glint surfaced in Su Li's eyes as he observed Yang Qian's move. Despite being the crown prince of the Mollukya Empire, Yang Qian lacked decisiveness. He wouldn't confront Su Li unless there was concrete news from the capital or the Trembleglades confirming his status as an outcast. Otherwise, Yang Qian would never risk an outright conflict with him.

Yet, Yang Qian was not one to easily concede, which led him to attempt another test. Su Li had skillfully neutralized the earlier test involving the "Flowing Clouds Sword Techniques." This time, however, the odds were not in his favor. His cultivation level had only reached the pinnacle of the Body Tempering Realm.

Yang Qian, on the other hand, had advanced to the early stages of the Oceanic Wheel Realm.